Blueberry plant named &#39;BLUE RIBBON&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ is provided. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest market. The variety produces a large berry with exceptional flavor and crunch. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is an early to mid-season variety, ripening after Duke but before Draper, and producing high yields of excellent quality fruit, with good post-harvest shelf life. The plant is vigorous with a semi-upright to spreading growth habit, and an estimated chilling requirement of 800-1000 hours.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMNT

None.

LATIN NAME OF THE FAMILY, GENUS, AND SPECIES

Family — Ericaceae

Genus — Vaccinium

Species — corymbosum hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘Blue Ribbon.’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrid) and referred to as ‘Blue Ribbon,’ as herein described and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2005. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest market. The variety produces a large berry with exceptional flavor and crunch. ‘Blue Ribbon’ is an early to mid-season variety, ripening after Duke but before Draper, and producing high yields of excellent quality fruit with good post-harvest shelf life. The plant is vigorous with a semi-upright to spreading, growth habit, and an estimated chilling requirement of 800-1000 hours.

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a 2002 controlled cross pollination of ‘G344’ (pollen parent, unpatented) by ‘Toro’ (female parent, unpatented). The seedling was first selected from a high density field planting in the summer of 2005 and has been planted in replicated trials since 2008.

The new variety can be compared to commercial variety ‘Duke’ in that ‘Blue Ribbon’ ripens 1 to 2 weeks later, has higher yields, and firmer fruit.

The new variety can be compared to the pollen parent ‘Draper’ in that ‘Blue Ribbon’ ripens 1 to 2 weeks earlier, has higher yields, and better flavor.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Lowell, Oreg., and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new blueberry plant variety ‘Blue Ribbon’:

1. Large fruit with exceptional flavor and crunch.

2. Vigorous plant with long, arching branches and a semi-upright, to spreading growth habit

3. High yields

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon.’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon,’ highlighting the plant's semi-upright to spreading growth habit and vigorous nature.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon.’

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Blue Ribbon.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Blue Ribbon’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately three years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from “The Pantone Book of Color” (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbert; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors in the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae. b. Genus — Vaccinium. c.     Species — corymbosum hybrid d. Common Name — Northern Highbush -   Parentage: Female Parent — Toro (unpatented). Male parent — G344     (unpatented). -   Market class: ‘Blue Ribbon’ is a commercial blueberry variety     intended for the hand harvest market. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant size.—Medium. a. Height of Plant: Average of 34 inches             on 3 year old plants. b. Canopy Diameter: Average of 41             inches on 3 year old plants.         -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright to spreading with long, arching             branches.         -   Plant vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Twigginess.—Low.         -   Evergreenness.—Semi-deciduous in Lowell, Oreg.         -   Suckering.—Low.         -   Chilling requirement.—Approximately 800-1000 hours.         -   Cold hardiness.—Approximately USDA zones 4-7.         -   Productivity.—In Lowell, Oreg.: a. 2 Year Old Plants: 8.26             lbs per plant, compared to 4.22 lbs per plant on Duke plants             of the same age. b. 3 Year Old Plants: 6.88 lbs per plant,             compared to 4.14 lbs per plant on Duke plants of the same             age.         -   Propagation.—Easy to propagate from softwood cuttings.         -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—a. Root rot (Phytophthora             cinnamomi): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. b.             Stem Blight (Botryosphaeria spp): Undetermined. c. Phomopsis             Twig Blight (Phomopsis vaccinii): Does not appear to be             overly susceptible. d. Botryosphaeria Stem canker             (Botryosphaeria corticis): Undetermined. e. Bacterial Cane             Canker (Pseudomonas syringae): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. f. Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea): Does not             appear to be overly susceptible. g. Leaf Spot (Septoria             spp.): Does not appear to be overly susceptible. h. Leaf             rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii): Does not appear to be overly             susceptible. i. Bud Mites (Acalatus vaccinii): Undetermined.         -   Survival.—Good. -   Trunk and branches:     -   -   Texture.—a. Surface Texture New Wood: Smooth. b. Surface             Texture 1 yr Wood: Smooth. c. Surface Texture 3 yr Wood:             Rough.         -   Color.—a. Color New Wood: Pantone color Oasis 16-0540 and             Barn Red 18-1531. b. Color Rough Bark 1 yr: Pantone color             Mineral Red 17-1537 and Oasis 16-0540. c. Color Rough Bark 3             yr: Pantone color Mineral Red 17-1537, Smoke Grey 14-1209,             and Brush 16-1317. -   Foliage:     -   -   Internode length.—Average of 16.17 mm.         -   Leaf dimensions.—a. Leaf Length: Average of 58.6 mm. b. Leaf             Width: Average of 35.6 mm.         -   Leaf shape.—Broadly elliptical.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf color.—a. Leaf Color Upper Leaf Surface: Pantone color             Artichoke Green 18-0125. b. Leaf Color Lower Leaf Surface:             Pantone color Epsom 17-0324.         -   Pubescence.—a. Upper Leaf Surface: Absent. b. Lower Leaf             Surface: Absent. c. Leaf Margins: Absent.         -   Petiole.—a. Length: Average of 4.38 mm. b. Color: Pantone             color Sweet Pea 15-0531. c. Surface Texture: Smooth. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Alternate arrangement.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet, faint.         -   Anther.—a. Anther Length: Average of 3.98 mm. b. Anther             Color: Pantone color Gold Earth 15-1234.         -   Immature flower color.—Pantone color Holly Berry 17-1633 and             Pastel Parchment 11-0603.         -   Pedicel.—a. Pedicel Length Flower: Average of 4.48 mm. b.             Pedicel Color: Pantone color Spinach Green 16-0439.         -   Peduncle.—a. Peduncle Length Flower: Variable, average of             15.99 mm. b. Peduncle Color: Pantone color Green Oasis             15-0538.         -   Flower shape.—Cylindrical to urceolate.         -   Pollen.—a. Pollen Staining: Approximately 85% viable,             Staining with 2% acetocarmine dye b. Pollen Abundance:             Medium pollen shed. c. Pollen Color: Pantone color Corn Silk             13-0932.         -   Flower length.—Average of 10.31 mm.         -   Corolla.—a. Corolla Length: Average of 8.21 mm. b. Corolla             Diameter: Average of 6.91 mm. c. Corolla Color: Pantone             color Snow White 11-0602. d. Corolla Texture: Smooth. e.             Corolla Aperature: Average of 5.09 mm.         -   Style length.—Average of 7.90 mm.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Diameter: Average of 5.54 mm. b. Calyx             Surface: Smooth. c. Calyx Color: Pantone color Water cress             17-0220. Calyx Lobes — Spinach Green 16-0439 and Faded Rose             18-1629.         -   Pistil color.—Pantone color Spinach Green 16-0439.         -   Flowering period.—Flowers from the end of April through the             end of May in Lowell, Oreg.         -   Flowering cluster.—Moderately Loose.         -   Number of flowers.—Average of 6 to 7 flowers per cluster.         -   Stigma location.—Even with corolla to 0.08 mm below lip of             corolla, on average.         -   Self-compatibility.—Good — on average 86% of self-pollinated             flowers reach maturity.         -   Precocity.—Flower bud break occurs prior to vegetative bud             break. Flowers persist during initial vegetative growth             period. -   Fruit:     -   -   Mean harvest date.—July 21.         -   Mean date last pick.—August 22.         -   Calyx.—a. Calyx Aperture: Average of 5.54 mm. b. Calyx             Lobes: 5 lobes, not distinct. c. Calyx Depth: Average of             1.09 mm.         -   Berry cluster.—Moderately loose.         -   Berry pedicel.—a. Length: Average of 8.99 mm. b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berry peduncle.—a. Length: Average of 24.70 mm b. Surface             Texture: Smooth.         -   Berries per cluster.—Average of 5 to 7.         -   Berry detachment.—Moderately easy.         -   Berry weight.—Average berry weight of 2.4 g, compared to             Duke plants of the same age, which have an average berry             weight of 2.4 g.         -   Berry height.—Average of 13.04mm.         -   Berry width.—Average of 17.40mm.         -   Berry shape.—Oblate, spherical.         -   Berry color.—a. Immature Berry Color: Pantone color Green             Olive 17-0535. b. Berry Skin Color on Plant: Pantone color             Blue Ice 17-3922. c. Berry Skin Color after Harvest: Pantone             color Velvet Morning 18-3927. d. Berry Skin Color after             Polishing: Pantone color Shale 19-3903.         -   Berry wax.—Medium wax/Moderately persistent.         -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532.         -   Pedicel scar.—Small and dry, average of 2.54 mm inches in             diameter.         -   Berry firmness.—Very good. Average berry firmness             measurement for ‘Blue Ribbon’ is 196 g/mm of deflection,             compared to Duke plants harvested on the same day, which             have an average of 148 g/mm of delfection as measured by a             Firmtech fruit firmness machine.         -   Berry flavor.—Sweet.         -   Berry texture.—Smooth. -   Seeds:     -   -   Seed color.—Pantone color Marron 18-1415.         -   Seed length.—Average of 1.65 mm.         -   Seed width.—Average of 1 mm.         -   Seed weight.—Average of 0.5 mg.         -   Seeds per berry.—Average of 36 seeds per berry. 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Blue Ribbon,’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 